Product Development Manager

The Product Development Manager executes and manages all phases of the new product development and product reformulation process from concept to consumer within the Global Marketing organization. This individual will also partner closely with cross-functional teams across the organization to ensure product integrity and on trend/on time launch for each initiative within given categories.

Responsibilities Include:

Trend:

• Maintain keen awareness of global color and industry trends
• Manage tracking and reporting of beauty trends, looks and industry competitive launches
• Meet with package vendors and TPM’s to evaluate new formulas and technologies
• Maintain and manage competitive product and shade library and landscapes
• Attend trade shows to keep abreast of innovation and news
• Investigate and recommend new ingredient stories, product textures and NPD opportunities

NPD/Ideation/Concept Development

• Make portfolio/NPD recommendations based on trends, category expertise & white space opportunity
• Translate industry and color trends into viable product concepts that complement the portfolio strategy to ensure a robust pipeline
• Actively partner with Marketing in category reviews and brand analysis to kickoff innovation/3 year planning process
• Collaborates with Marketing on developing innovation strategies/ 3 year calendar and identifying key products to move forward into the pipeline
• Applies strategic thinking throughout ideation, conceptualization and commercialization phases
• Able to balance strategic thinking around the business need with the aesthetic so that NPD fits into the strategic framework
• Navigate and understand the COG’s, P & L and how they impact the business from a product and category level to the brand level
• Work with R & D and marketing to create sell-in pages and product support materials (i.e. toolkits, etc)

Product Development

• Understands fundamentals of all phases of product development and has strong cosmetics category expertise.
• Creates and distributes Product Development Requests, providing specific direction to R& D regarding product attributes and expectations for NPD.
• Oversees the evaluation and direction of shade and formula submissions from lab to production.
• Keeps records of all submissions, scale ups and standards to ensure consistency throughout the process
• Works closely with R&D to ensure product meets all requirements for appearance, application, wear, texture, usage etc.
• Partner with the packaging team to develop appropriate delivery system and aesthetic for all products. Review and manage all package submissions
• Finalizes all formula prototypes and shade ranges, providing full rationale for each to marketing team.
• Collaborate on the development of key product claims and partner with the testing lab to ensure claims are delivered
• Leads product and shade name brainstorming activities
• Manages and leads team through any in-market product issues, working closely with R&D, packaging, Marketing, Production to identify, solve and communicate in an efficient manner

Beauty Looks/Creative Communication

• Determine beauty looks (print, TV, social, etc) and outline for agency
• Brief makeup artist prior to shoots (pre-pro), outlining looks and special instructions
• Attend shoots in order to ensure that product use and intent are met on set
• Actively participate in the retouching process for print, TV, social, etc
• Manages acquisition of samples , bulk and comps for all photoshoots

Experience:

• Minimum 5-8 years product development experience
• Hands on color product development experience a must

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Ability to translate technical and strategic concepts to “consumer friendly” products
• Strong communication skills – verbal and written
• Creative problem solving skills
• Strong organizational and computer skills required.

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing or cosmetic related field.